Power Outages, Hazardous Roads, Here Comes Old Man Winter

According to the Farmer’s Almanac get ready for teeth-chattering cold, blustery and bitter winds, Above-normal snowfall and stormy conditions If your Michigan get ready for Jack Frost biting at your nose complete with ice, rain and freezing rain.

Hurricane Florence kicked off the season with a bang, and last year we saw enormous storms like hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria leave paths of death and destruction. Also, wildfire season is longer every year, which makes it even more important for you to be prepared and be aware.

“Unfortunately, people are not prepared enough until the last minute. Look at what just happened with Hurricane Michael and that’s a category four storm, and that’s the first time a category four storm has the Florida Panhandles,” said Cheryl Nelson network TV meteorologist and instructor for the FEMA national disaster preparedness training center. “These storms are getting worse and worse. You need to talk to your family, have plan and have that disaster kit.”

During a storm we want to be prepared; a lot of us want to stay connected and with HughesNet Internet Continuity they provide internet access via satellite and that is so important because it detects the outage and switches over automatically,” said Nelson. “Outages can be devastating to business and we’re talking cable and fiber internet outages. With a subscription to HughesNet Internet Continuity small and midsize business can weather a storm without taking a costly hit to the bottom line and that really provides peace of mind. “

HughesNet Internet Continuity is an affordable connectivity backup service that seamlessly delivers broadband Internet when your primary Internet service fails. Because HughesNet Internet Continuity is satellite Internet, it is not exposed to the risks faced by terrestrial Internet options. In addition, it is more cost effective than terrestrial options. When human error or natural disaster knock your business offline, satellite provides a truly diverse way to stay connected.

“One other thing you might not think about is getting an air purifier,” adds Nelson. “They are so important and I recommend Honeywell HEPA Air Purifiers. they are so effective at capturing tiny air borne particles like smoke and other allergens.”

The new ENERGY STAR qualified, Honeywell True HEPA Allergen Remover effectively captures up to 99.97% of airborne allergens, 0.3 microns and larger, that pass through the filters. This product is highly effective at capturing airborne particles such as dust, smoke, pollen, pet dander and mold spores in extra large rooms. An odor reducing pre-filter and True HEPA filter are paired to capture odors, VOCs, allergens and germs. The HPA300 offers easy tap controls and an automatic shut off timer.

“Basic supplies you have to think about the things you really need, food and water for at least three days, flashlights, batteries a first-aid kit,” said Nelson. “Other things you want to have is a list of important phone numbers and on that I recommend having 1-800-RESPOND that will take you to Service Master Restore. They are the go to source for getting your home or business back to normal after a disaster strikes and they will help you recover from a flood, fire or other mold issues. They are available 24/7 365 days a year.”

“To be prepared you really have to start thinking ahead and a lot of people don’t think about flood insurance until its too late,” added Nelson. There is a great resource National Association of Insurance Commissioners. “A lot of people don’t realize that ground water flooding is not covered by your homeowner’s policy so consider flood insurance even if you’re not in a flood zone.”

For more information on being prepared for winter storms visit TipsonTV.com

More about Cheryl Nelson

Cheryl Nelson is a Lifestyle TV host, meteorologist and natural disaster preparedness expert - a timely profession in today’s world. Certified by the American Meteorological Society, Cheryl helps save lives by teaching the public how to prepare for hurricanes, wild fires, earthquakes, tornados, thunderstorms, winter storms and extreme heat - with a focus on family and pet preparedness.

Cheryl has appeared on BBC World News, Fox and Friends, the national talk show The Real, The Weather Channel, The AccuWeather Network and CNBC. She also hosted the TV special Get Ready America: The National Hurricane Survival Test which aired in fifty television markets in the United States. Her successful satellite media tours on hurricane preparedness and the lifesaving importance of Cummins' standby generators and disaster preparedness kits were seen by millions of people nationwide.

Working tirelessly to educate on severe weather safety, Cheryl is affiliated with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration as an ambassador for Weather-Ready Nation. She is also a keynote speaker at worldwide events and conferences and is involved in projects with The National Science Foundation, Storm Center Communications and the United States Department of Defense. In addition, Cheryl is an instructor and meteorologist for FEMA’s National Disaster Preparedness Training Center.

On a lighter note, she is the co-host of the popular weekday lifestyle TV show Coast LIVE on WTKR-TV in Norfolk, Virginia. The show covers trending topics, beauty, fashion, cooking, science, travel, pets and celebrity interviews. Actress Katie Holmes, HGTV’s Property Brothers Drew and Jonathan Scott and Olympic Gold gymnast and Dancing with The Stars winner Laurie Hernandez have been some of her guests.

In addition to her TV work as a lifestyle TV show host, meteorologist and on-air product spokesperson for Cummins Generators, Cheryl has appeared in various commercials and promotional videos. Brains and beauty… Cheryl was crowned Mrs. Virginia International in 2014 and then went on to place in the top 10 at the Mrs. International Pageant.

A graduate of Penn State University, Cheryl now serves on the American Meteorological Society Broadcast Board and was co-chair of the 2018 American Meteorological Society Broadcast Conference. She was also awarded honorable mention for FEMA's Individual and Community Preparedness Award for Awareness to Action.

On a personal note, Cheryl is a world traveler and has been to twenty five countries in five years. Recently, she has traveled to Iceland, Chile and New Zealand.

Interview Courtesy: Hughes Net and Honeywell

Photo Courtessy: pxhere CCO 1.0 from pxhere.com